A Comprehensive 2-Week Sweden Summer Itinerary

Sweden is one of my favorite places to spend the summer. Temperatures are generally milder than most of Europe, and the lighting at this time of the year is beautiful. With plentiful daylight hours, fresh pine trees, and mosquitoes ready to eat you alive as soon as you step into the forest, the country is begging to be explored. 

What’s even nicer about Sweden in the summer is its atmosphere. Locals emerge from their winter hibernation in style, and the country feels peaceful and jovial in equal measure. With plenty of hiking spots, fantastic cities, and beautiful lighting, you’ve got all the components of an adventure in this wonderful place. 

I’ve been to Sweden over 10 times and even lived there briefly; I have visited all of the places I talk about in this guide. Keep reading to discover my comprehensive itinerary; my hope is that you’ll take what’s good for you and leave the rest.

Before We Start: Some Useful Things to Know

If you don’t want to read this part, you can skip to the itinerary here. 

This itinerary will start in Southern Sweden and finish in the north. I did this because it’s the easiest option if you’re traveling internationally, and also because I believe in saving the best until last. In my opinion, Northern Sweden is the best part of the country. 

I’ve made this Sweden summer itinerary as a modified version of a trip I took in 2024, along with combining my wisdom from many other trips. The reason I’ve made some adjustments is so that you can enjoy a smoother trip and more manageable load than I did. 

This itinerary is summer-specific for multiple reasons: 

• Longer daylight hours 
• Better hiking opportunities 
• Seasonal opening times 

You could make slight adjustments for a winter trip, but I think that this itinerary maximizes what you can do in Sweden in the summer. You can use this itinerary if you visit in late May, too. 

The only part of this itinerary where you’ll need a car is for the High Coast. Public transport in this part of Sweden is limited, and you won’t be able to get anywhere near exploring this region to the extent that it deserves without a car. For the rest of the itinerary, you can use long-distance trains. 

Another important note: If you visit for midsummer (21st June), most places in Sweden will be closed. This is one of the biggest public holidays of the year, and many Swedes head to the countryside to celebrate it. 

My Recommended Budget for 2 Weeks in Sweden

You can do this trip on any budget. Most of my recommended accommodation is for mid-range travelers, but you absolutely can visit on a budget. Thanks to allemansrätten (the right to roam), you can camp almost anywhere in the country—which is excellent for saving money. 

Making some slight adjustments to the cities you stay in can help, too. For example, you could stay in Uppsala instead of Stockholm. We did this in 2024 and commuted to Stockholm; the journey took 35-50 minutes. 

If you have more money to spend, you can also enjoy a luxury summer trip in Sweden. The country has many excellent hotels and spas, and you’ll find some lovely summer houses as well. 

My Complete Sweden 2-Week Summer Itinerary

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s jump into the full itinerary. You can modify my suggestions to fit your own needs, but this guide is a solid starting point nonetheless. 

Days 1-3: Malmö & the South

You’ll start your Sweden summer itinerary in the south, covering the county of Skåne. To get here, your easiest option is to fly to Copenhagen Airport and take the train to Malmö. I recommend spending some time in Copenhagen if you have an extra day or two, but if not, the journey to Sweden is less than an hour. 

Copenhagen Airport is Scandinavia’s main airport, and you can fly here from multiple destinations worldwide. This is the primary reason I recommend arriving there, taking the train to Sweden, and starting your adventure there. 

Day 1: Malmö

I’ve been to Malmö multiple times; it’s an easy day trip from Copenhagen and has more than enough to keep you entertained for a few days. I recommend basing yourself either here or in Lund while you’re in Southern Sweden.

Start by exploring the St:Knut district. Here, you can get some great pastries and lunch at Söderberg & Sara. 

After filling yourself up, head back to the city center and hop on a canal tour. These run throughout the summer, and you’ll get a great view of Malmö from a unique perspective. Once you’re back on the shore, wander around Gamla Väster—arguably the city’s most picturesque district. 

For dinner, I recommend 400Grader. Be sure to email them in advance to book a table. 

Day 2: Brunch in Malmö and Exploring Lund

After getting a solid night of sleep, you’ll be ready to explore Lund. In my opinion, this is Sweden’s most beautiful city; it’s just a short train ride from Malmö, too. 

Before heading to Lund, though, I recommend having some brunch in Malmö. MJ’s has a fantastic brunch (the hotel is also well worth staying at if you haven’t yet booked a place to stay. You can book a table in advance on the MJ’s website. 

After enjoying an excellent brunch, take the train to Lund. Within 20 minutes, you’ll have beautiful cobblestone streets and a cozy atmosphere at your disposal. Lund is very compact and easy to explore in a day, whether you walk or bring a bike. 

In addition to the town center, Lund’s Botanical Garden is worth checking out. Don’t miss the beautiful cathedral, either. 

Make sure you stop in Mannz Bageri while you’re in Lund. Their Wienerbröd is *really* good, and you’ll find plenty of other sweet treats as well. 

When you get back to Malmö, El Sótano is a great spot for dinner.

Day 3: More of Malmö & Traveling to Stockholm

Unless you get an early train, you’ll have some time to explore a bit more of Malmö. Walk or cycle to Västra Hamnen, the city’s swanky modern neighborhood by the water. Here, you’ll find the Turning Torso—Malmö’s most iconic building. 

The waterfront along Ribersborg Strand is really pleasant on a sunny day, and you can get a great view of the Öresund Bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark here. On a clear day, you can see Copenhagen across the water. 

Much of your day will be spent traveling to Stockholm. Taking the train is your best option; the journey takes around four and a half hours. Book your tickets in advance; Omio lets you compare train and bus prices, while SJ is Sweden’s main train operator. 

Once you arrive in Stockholm, take it easy and check into your accommodation. You can go for an evening walk if you have time; the city is beautiful in its summer evening light. 

Where to Stay in Malmö 

I’ve stayed overnight in Malmö multiple times, and MJ’s is my favorite place. The rooms are quirky but comfortable, and the staff are great. Clarion Malmö Live, close to the main station, is also an excellent option—with a really good breakfast.

Days 3-7: Stockholm & Uppsala 

You’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Stockholm, and to be honest, you could easily spend a week here if you really wanted to. Nonetheless, you can get a taste of the Swedish capital in 3 days and also spend a day in Uppsala. 

Day 4: Stockholm’s Highlights

Morning

Gamla Stan rightly gets most of the attention from tourists in Stockholm, and it’s a natural starting point for your trip. The beautiful Old Town feels less like Sweden and more like Italy. It’s a beautiful network of cobblestone streets and the geographical center of Stockholm. 

Get to Gamla Stan early as it gets *very* crowded, especially during the summer.

After spending some time in Gamla Stan, I recommend walking to nearby Riddarholmen. Though much smaller, this island is also picturesque. 

You can then easily head over to Södermalm. In my opinion, this is Stockholm’s coolest neighborhood. Stop for some great pastries at St:Paul Bageri; you’ll find some nice coffee at Drop Coffee as well. 

Once you’ve worked up a proper appetite, you can drop by Kapibara for some ramen. After that, I recommend going to Monteliusvägen for a great view of the city. 

Afternoon

By this point, you’ll have explored much of Stockholm from land. Now is the perfect time to take to the water. Several canal tours operate throughout the city, and the Swedish capital looks glorious during the summer.

If you don’t want to take a tour, I can also recommend the public transport ferries. You’ll get an excellent view of Gamla Stan and Gröna Lund in particular. If you do this, consider stopping at the Vasa Museum and Nordiska Museet on Djurgården. 

After finishing your boat adventure, you can check out Djurgården (if you haven’t already) or head over to upscale Östermalm. Stockholm’s fanciest neighborhood has some beautiful architecture and a great food hall. 

Day 5: The Stockholm Archipelago 

Stockholm’s archipelago is beautiful year-round, and it’s particularly popular during the summer. Spend the bulk of your second full day in Stockholm exploring its stunning nearby islands. 

The archipelago has 30,000 islands and skerries, so you naturally won’t see them all in one day. However, you can at least cover a few. Waxholmsbolaget is the main ferry operator to the archipelago; buy your tickets on board. 

Alternatively, you can take several tours to the archipelago. 

Day 6: Uppsala

Uppsala is a stunning university town just north of Stockholm; we visited in 2024 and really enjoyed our stay. While we stayed overnight, you can see the bulk of Uppsala in one day. 

First, you can start your day in Stockholm with some brunch at Pom och Flora. After filling up, take the train to Uppsala; you’ll be there in less than an hour. The cathedral and castle are both must-sees. 

The main joy in Uppsala is walking around, especially along the river. When you’re feeling hungry, you can stop for Mexican food at Tapicante. You’ll find two restaurants in Uppsala: One at Drottingatan 8 and another at Salagatan 20.

Day 7: More of Stockholm 

Morning

No trip to Stockholm in the summer is complete without going to the City Hall tower. You’ll get an amazing view of Riddarholmen in particular, but the view of Stockholm is amazing from all directions. 

The City Hall itself is a work of art. Once you’re at ground level, you can walk around the park for free. It’s a nice place to relax and take in your surroundings for a bit. From there, it’s easy to explore the peaceful Kungsholmen neighborhood.

The tower opens at 08:30 and is open daily apart from Thursdays. You can buy your tickets in advance; adult tickets cost 100 SEK for adults (children up to 11 go for free). 

For lunch, head to Under Kastanjen in Gamla Stan. This is a great place to try Swedish meatballs. I was initially skeptical as it’s right in the city’s most touristy area, but the food is really good and reasonably priced. 

If you’re feeling peckish in the afternoon, consider heading to Stora Bageriet for some great cinnamon buns.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, consider allocating some time to Skansen. This open-air museum is a microcosm of Sweden from yesterday and one of the capital’s most popular attractions. It’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon, especially if you’re traveling with kids. It closes at 17:00, so you should make this a priority after lunch. 

After visiting Skansen, check out some more of Djurgården on foot or by bike (if you haven’t already been). Then, go to Skeppsholmen. While one of Stockholm’s smallest islands, it’s the most pleasant if you ask me. Besides great views of the city, you’ll find a handful of museums here. You can walk to tiny Kastellholmen via the footbridge, too. 

Where to Stay in Stockholm

Clarion Amaranten is my favorite hotel in Stockholm. It’s close to the City Hall in Kungsholmen, and again, the breakfast is great. Despite being centrally located, it was quite peaceful. 

If you’re traveling solo, the City Backpackers Hostel is a great place to meet people. It’s also easy to get everywhere in the Swedish capital from there. 

You can view other accommodation options below. 

Day 8: A Day in Sundsvall and Traveling to Umeå

Today will be a lot of traveling, but we’ll break things up with a day in pretty Sundsvall. You could take a direct train from Stockholm to Umeå in just over 6 hours, but that’s the least fun option. Plus, Sundsvall is worth your time. 

Sundsvall has a beautiful city center that was reconstructed after a devastating fire in 1888. The city has been voted Sweden’s prettiest in the past, and it’s not hard to see why. The surrounding areas are also pleasant. 

While in Sundsvall, I recommend stopping for some food at Guilty Pleasure Café. The staff at the restaurant in Sundsvall were great, and the food was also really nice. 

After a day exploring Sundsvall, you can catch a direct train to Umeå. The journey is just over three hours. 

How to Buy Your Train Tickets

You can buy train tickets from Stockholm to Sundsvall via SJ or Omio. The same is true for the Sundsvall – Umeå leg of your journey, though you can also purchase tickets via Norrtåg.

Day 9: Umeå

I loved visiting Umeå, and I’d go as far as saying that it’s my favorite city in Sweden. Umeå has a vibrant atmosphere, some excellent restaurants, and a wonderful riverside location. Staying overnight is a really good idea; we stayed at Clarion Umeå, which has a great rooftop bar and blackout curtains in the rooms (very important for this time of year!). 

Start by walking along the river and visiting the Skin 4 sculpture. From here, you’re within walking distance of the excellent Västerbottens Museum, which is free to visit. 

Head back into town and go for an aimless wander around the city center. For dinner, Sjöbris is a great choice. It’s by the river; indulge in their pizzas and don’t look back.

Days 10-14: Höga Kusten

It may seem weird that we’ve gone further north than Höga Kusten and are then coming down, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Umeå is better for an overnight stay than Sundsvall, and you can also pick up your rental car before continuing to the High Coast. 

We only stayed for three days on the High Coast, which is technically doable. However, I suggest spending longer, which is why I’ve allocated five days in this summer itinerary. 

Höga Kusten is around two hours from Umeå by car. We based ourselves in Mjällom, but it doesn’t matter too much where you set up shop. If you’re asking me, a nice cabin by the lake is a very good idea. 

Day 11: Norra Ulvön

Visiting the island of Norra Ulvön was the highlight of my High Coast adventure, and I recommend going there on your first day. We took the 10:45 boat from Mjällomslandet and came back in the afternoon. Our boat was at 15:45, but since then, it seems like the return boat has changed to 15:00. You can book via Höga Kusten Båterna; the website is in Swedish. 

Be sure to hike to Lotsberget for a great view of the island’s main village and surrounding areas. It’s around 30 minutes and pretty straightforward. 

While in Ulvöhamn, we also visited the village’s main museum. Here, we learned about its maritime history and the invention of the notorious surströmming dish (that smelly fermented fish you’ve probably seen on YouTube). 

We had a nice meal at Bistro Ruben, and I suggest stopping here for lunch. One day is enough to see the island, but I also think it’s worth staying overnight if you get the chance.

Day 12: Skuleberget

I always thought of Sweden as being “nice, but not with Norway’s dramatic nature”. The High Coast proved to me that Sweden actually has mountains, and we hiked two in one day: Högklinten and Skuleberget. 

I don’t recommend hiking them both as it felt a bit rushed, which is why I’ve split these hikes into two separate days. 

The hike to the top of Skuleberget was pretty simple and took us a few hours. Unfortunately, the surrounding views were quite foggy, so we didn’t see them.  

Still, though, it was a fun experience. At the top of Skuleberget, we stopped at a café and had some nice waffles. Walking down was a bit more slippery as it had been raining. We also went the long way around, which I can recommend.

Once we arrived at the bottom, we stopped for some food at Restaurang Vardagsrummet. You can get various meals here, and it’s an ideal opportunity to try the main beer from Höga Kusten (which I surprisingly liked, considering that I find those kinds of beers repulsive).

Day 13: Högklinten and Nordingrå

Högklinten was an easier hike than Skulberget, and we got to see some lovely views since it wasn’t foggy. The trails here aren’t as clear as Skuleberget, in my opinion, which meant we took longer to reach the top. 

The initial part was my least favorite part, to be honest, as it was pretty steep. Things got easier as we reached the summit, though. Bring some food with you; there’s a bench where you can have a nice picnic while admiring your surroundings. 

After coming back down, I recommend visiting the farmer’s market in Nordingrå if you’re there on a weekend. It’s open from 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and Sunday, with some really nice food and plenty of cool local gifts. It’s a fantastic place to stop for some souvenirs from your Swedish adventure. 

Day 14: Norrfällsviken and Skuleskogen

For your last day on Höga Kusten, we’ll do some more hiking and then have a lovely dinner by the water. Skuleskogen National Park is well worth checking out, and while you can’t cover everything in a day, you’ll find plenty of fun trails and hikes. Slåttdalsskrevan Canyon is a popular photography spot; it’ll remind you of something from Iceland more than Sweden.

In the evening, head to lovely Norrfällsviken. Here, you’ll find a pleasant waterfront and more great nature to explore. We also had a really nice pizza on our last evening at Restaurang Kompassen, which was owned by one of our Airbnb hosts… I’d have happily gone here even if that wasn’t the case, though. 

Where to Stay on Höga Kusten

We stayed in a nice cabin in Mjällom, which was the perfect launchpad for our day trips around this region. But to be honest, anywhere is fine (as long as you have a car). You’ll find various campsites, too.

Continuing Your Onward Journey

Another reason why this itinerary ends in the north is so you can decide what you want to do next. From the High Coast, you can continue onward and even head into Swedish Lapland. Alternatively, you can fly or take the train from Örnsköldvik back to Stockholm and then fly home. 

If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can head back to Umeå (or make it your last stop) and then take the ferry to Vaasa in Finland. Vaasa is a really nice town, and from there, you can then explore the rest of the country. 

More Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Sweden in the Summer

To help you plan for your Sweden summer trip more effectively, I’ll give you some more of my top tips in this section. 

• Mosquitoes: Bringing mosquito repellent is a really good idea. These wonderful little creatures (there is no sarcasm in my voice, I promise) mistook me for a 7-course meal while hiking in particular. 
• Traveling in July: Sweden can be pretty quiet in July. Many locals leave the cities and go on their holidays. While some restaurants and businesses will be closed, I would actually like to visit Stockholm during this time as it’s less overwhelming. 
• Packing Appropriately: The sun can be quite strong, especially in the north of Sweden. Temperatures can be surprisingly warm, too, though it can similarly rain quite a lot. Packing a jumper for evenings is wise, and you should bring both long and short pants so you’re ready for all conditions. 
• Daylight Hours: Sweden’s summer daylight hours are long. While magical, it can be hard to sleep with light peeking through your window. Look for accommodation with blackout curtains and/or bring a sleep mask with you. 

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